Mortgage Preapproval
A mortgage preapproval is a lender's conditional commitment to lend you a specific amount, based on a review of your finances and credit. It's stronger than a prequalification and tells sellers you're a serious, ready buyer — often required before an offer is taken seriously.
Preapproval isn't a guarantee; final approval still depends on underwriting and the appraisal. Getting preapproved early also surfaces your real budget and any credit issues while there's still time to fix them.
Put it to work
Home Affordability Calculator
How much house can you afford? Get a realistic max price from your income, debts, and down payment using the 28/36 rules lenders actually apply.
Debt-to-Income Ratio Calculator
Calculate the debt-to-income (DTI) ratio mortgage lenders use to size your approval — front-end and back-end — and see how much room you have before 36%.